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Roberto Mancini: Manchester City owners unhappy but I don't feel under pressure

Roberto Mancini insists he has the backing of Manchester City's owners despite their unease at the club's slump in form.

Last Updated: 17/02/13 1:09pm

Roberto Mancini: Rounded on critics who suggested his job is under threat

The champions' failure to win any of their last three games has left them with a 12-point gap to bridge if they are to catch Manchester United in the Premier League.

Despite that faltering title defence Mancini has rubbished suggestions his job is on the line and says his critics "don't understand football".

And, although both Mancini and his bosses are angry at recent results, the first manager since 1968 to deliver City a league title does not feel under pressure from chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

"I speak with Khaldoon every week," said Mancini. "He is like me. When we lose he has my mentality, he is upset and disappointed, but this is normal and it's correct in football.

"After you lose you can't be happy for 24 hours but after that you need to think about the future.

"We have a good relationship. At this moment they aren't happy because when you lose you can't be happy, but I think they are happy with our job over the three years."

City overturned an eight-point deficit late last season to pinch the title in the dying seconds, and Mancini knows the next six games - with Chelsea, Everton and United among the opposition - are key to pulling off a similar feat this time.

He said: "We play the derby in April and from now until then we have six games and we need to look at what happens in the next six games.

"If we reduce the gap before the derby... but it's not important to look at the table. It's important to win, win, win."